Jafar Panahi wins three awards at Gotham Awards 2025 Photo: IMDb
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi dominated the spotlight at the 35th Gotham Awards, winning three major honors on a night when Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another claimed best feature film.
The celebrated filmmaker claimed the best feature film for a big-budget production that stood out in a ceremony traditionally known for honoring smaller, independent titles.
The event, held at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan, delivered its usual mix of glitz, surprises, and heartfelt moments. Though the Gothams are not a conventional predictor of Oscar success, they remain a cherished platform for breakout films, bold storytelling, and tribute honors.
Maya Rudolph, left, and Paul Thomas Anderson at The Gotham Film Awards on Monday, Dec. 01, 2025. (AP Photo)
A Landmark Win for a Big-Budget Contender
The victory for One Battle After Another marked a shift in the Gotham landscape. The awards once enforced a $35 million budget cap, but that rule was dropped in 2023. Anderson’s multigenerational father-daughter protest drama, made for more than $130 million, broke from the tradition of indie winners like Past Lives or Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Accepting the award, Anderson appeared genuinely taken aback.
“I didn’t expect this,” he said, admitting he felt unsure of the moment. He closed his brief speech with a lighthearted invitation to head home or find a bar.
Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another.
Quirky Selections Define the Night
The Gothams are known for unpredictable results, and this year was no exception. Small juries select the winners, which often leads to unexpected choices—sometimes even in absentia. Both acting winners were not present.
Sopé Dìrísù won best lead performance for the British-Nigerian drama My Father’s Shadow. The film’s director, Akinola Davies Jr., accepted on his behalf and also took home the breakthrough director award. Dìrísù’s win came over strong competitors such as Jessie Buckley, Jennifer Lawrence, and Ethan Hawke.
Best supporting performance went to Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners. Her award was accepted by director Ryan Coogler, who stepped in to celebrate her victory. She triumphed over notable nominees, including Teyana Taylor, Stellan Skarsgård, and Jacob Elordi.
Jafar Panahi’s Triumph Amid Turmoil
The most emotional wins of the night belonged to Iranian director Jafar Panahi. His film It Was Just an Accident earned three major awards: best director, best original screenplay, and best international film.
Yet the achievements came under a shadow. Earlier that day, Panahi’s attorney revealed that the filmmaker had been sentenced to one year in prison and faced a two-year travel ban. Panahi has faced long-standing restrictions from Iranian authorities, including a ban on filmmaking since 2010. Despite these limitations, he continued to create films without permission.
His latest work, made shortly after his release from months of imprisonment, has already received global acclaim, including a Palme d’Or win at Cannes in May.
A scene from the movie, It Was Just an Accident.
In his screenplay acceptance speech, Panahi dedicated the honor to independent filmmakers worldwide. He praised those who “keep the camera rolling in silence” despite risk, guided only by truth and humanity.
More Notable Winners
Harry Lighton won for adapted screenplay with Pillion. Abou Sangaré earned breakthrough performer for Souleymane’s Story. Julia Loktev’s My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 — Last Air in Moscow took home best documentary.
Several industry figures also received tribute honours, including Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein, Scott Cooper for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Tessa Thompson for Hedda, and Noah Baumbach for Jay Kelly. Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts were recognised for After the Hunt, and Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson were celebrated for Song Sung Blue.
Jackman ended the night with a playful nod to Hollywood’s favourite tradition.
“This is a time to remember what brings us together,” he said. “And that is awards season.”
